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3/29/2018

You are receiving Sharing Neighborhoods as a registered subscriber. Sharing Neighborhoods is a publication of New Jersey SHARES, on the web at www.NJSHARES.org.

President's Letter

Jim Jacob, President & CEO

The winter of 2018 was extremely cold and excessively stormy, leaving thousands of our neighbors in the state without power. I would like to remind New Jersey residents who are struggling to pay their energy bills that there are programs available to help. One such program, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a federal energy assistance program, is designed to help low-income families and individuals with their home heating costs. This program runs from October to the end of May, providing much-needed financial relief for utility services to those facing a financial crisis.

An application to LIHEAP may also provide families and individuals with access to the Universal Service Fund (USF), a year-round New Jersey program that makes natural gas and electric bills more affordable for low-income households.

For those who do not qualify for government assistance and are facing termination, NJ SHARES is here to help. For the past 20 years, we have been the safety net organization for those who are unable to pay their utility bills due to circumstances beyond their control – such as unemployment, illness, medical expenses or other financial hardship. In addition to providing grants, we are able to connect low and moderate-income households with important resources offering education, information, referral and advocacy support.

Earlier this month, I joined colleagues in Washington, D.C. for LIHEAP Action Day. Sponsored by the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition (NEUAC), this annual event brings together key officials and energy assistance organizations from across the country for a day of advocacy and support for this critical federal energy assistance program. We were very pleased to participate in this important event of behalf of NJ SHARES and all those we serve. In New Jersey, we are fortunate that our legislators understand and support the LIHEAP program.

We would like to thank our generous donors and network of community-based social service agencies and legislative offices who make it possible for us to provide grants and resources to low- and moderate-income households so that they can keep their homes warm/cool and, most importantly, safe throughout the year.

For more information on any of our energy assistance program, visit our website at www.njshares.org or call our toll-free hotline – 1-866-NJSHARES (657-4273).

On March 13, NJ SHARES joined the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition (NEUAC) for their annual energy affordability advocacy event, which brings together key officials and energy assistance organizations from across the country in support of the federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Our state team visited our elected officials to talk to them about the critical importance of energy assistance programs as a safety net to our neighbors who fall on hard times. We were very pleased to participate in this important event of behalf of NJ SHARES and all those we serve. In New Jersey, we are fortunate that our legislators understand and support the LIHEAP program.

NJ SHARES met with Investors Foundation this month to review the NJ SHARES energy assistance program and its impact in our communities. Investors Foundations (Investors and Roma Bank) are donating a total of $10,000 to NJ SHARES energy assistance grants in 2018.

Events

Pictured at the event with NJ SHARES’ Dena Shipley (seated) are Atlantic City Electric’s Laura Perez and Maria Rivera.

NJ SHARES Visits the Nanticoke Lenni Lenape Tribal Grounds

As part of NJ SHARES outreach to all communities in our great state, NJ SHARES hosted an energy assistance resource fair on March 17 at the Cohanzick tribal grounds in Bridgeton, NJ located in Cumberland County. At this event, members of the tribal community were able to learn about resources available to them and sign up for programs they may qualify for.

NJ SHARES’ President and CEO Jim Jacob presented at the New Jersey Energy Assistance Summit. The Summit, held at the Department of Children and Families Professional Center in New Brunswick, invited home healthcare and central intake workers to learn about the resources available to their home care clients. This connection is so important because many home healthcare workers notice their clients may need help with their utilities to stay safe and healthy as they recover.

NJ SHARES Welcomes SHEELD to our network of agencies who provide application and enrollment support for NJ SHARES programs.SHEELD is a faith-based non-profit headquartered in the Shiloh Baptist Church of Plainfield. The all-volunteer organization, operates a food pantry and clothes closet dedicated to feeding the hungry.

NJ SHARES is fortunate to partner with more than 214 agencies around the state offering our programs out of more than 269 sites.

Each organization has a different mission and focus, but all provide holistic solutions to their community. “At NJ SHARES, we believe it is important to empower our communities to provide assistance in their neighborhoods so that people have access to this assistance in a place they feel comfortable asking for help,” said Jim Jacob NJ SHARES President and CEO.